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On Being a Christian Entrepreneur

Did you know that being an entrepreneur is a calling from God, just like any other vocation? It can be easy to miss the fact that business owners can have a lot of influence in the community.

One of the Most Famous Christian Entrepreneurs

Have you ever heard of Paul the Apostle? He was an entrepreneur. He supported himself financially while he preached the gospel by being a tent maker.

This brought him in contact with many of the townspeople and it gave him opportunities to talk to them while he worked. He also had a level of influence because a good tent maker was an important person in the community.

What If…

What if God has called you to be an entrepreneur for Him because there are people you can only reach by being a business owner?

I have been an entrepreneur for twenty years and one thing I have learned is that God works in mysterious ways. God brought people to my business for me to minister to them; the only way I would have met them was through the business.

God is looking for people that He can work through to financially provide for His Kingdom and one of the ways He can do that is by supernaturally blessing Christian business owners. He can cause their businesses to prosper so that many will be touched for Jesus.

But…

As you grow your business, you will have to make choices. Will you live for the world and put your business first, or will you do as God wants?

The Choices

Tithing

Tithing is one of the biggest choices you will face as a business owner. Will you tithe on your business and give to God what is God’s? Some people believe that you should only tithe what the business makes after expenses or that you only have to tithe on the salary you pay yourself.

I believe that in order to fully express your faith in God, you must tithe. Don’t be afraid to trust God with what you have. Don’t think that you will go out of business if you tithe on your business. It is very likely that the exact opposite will happen, that God will supernaturally bless your business and provide protection against the attacks of the devil.

Malachi 3:10-11 says, “‘Bring all the tithes into the storehouse, that there may be food in My house, and try Me now in this,’ says the Lord of hosts, ‘If I will not open for you the windows of heaven and pour out for you such blessing that there will not be room enough to receive it. And I will rebuke the devourer for your sakes, so that he will not destroy the fruit of your ground, nor shall the vine fail to bear fruit for you in the field,’ says the Lord of hosts.”

If you believe that God wants to bless your business so that you can be a blessing to His Kingdom, then one of the main areas you will be tested is in how you deal with money. Which leads to…

Obedience

When God tells you to do something with the money that He has given you will you do it? If you are blessed with a windfall, He may tell you to give it all away; this is a test of obedience. Will you do as He says or will you keep it? God is looking for radical givers who will quickly obey when they hear His voice.

Honesty

You will have to choose how honestly you run your business. Do you cheat your customers, the government, your employees or your vendors out of what is rightfully theirs? Will you cut corners in order to get ahead? Proverbs 11:1 says “Dishonest scales are an abomination to the Lord, but a just weight is His delight.”

This could be one of the hardest choices you will face. You will see other businesses that cut corners or cheat on their tax and like the Psalmist you will say, “Behold, these are the ungodly, who are always at ease; they increase in riches” (Psalm 73:12). You will be tempted to put your wealth above your integrity, but do not lose heart. Whether in this life or the next, you will be rewarded for your commitment to the Lord.

Time with your Family

Do you put your business first or your family first? Yes, you need to spend time running your business, but if it takes precedence over your family then ultimately you will lose. Your spouse and your children are the most valuable things that God has given you and you must decide what is more important, them or earning a few more dollars. You can’t let your business consume every waking moment. Which leads to the next test…

Time with God

Are you so busy with your business that you forget God? Your time with God is the most important thing that you can do. Will you become so consumed with earning money that you ignore the One who blessed you with the business in the first place? Your relationship with God must come first because He is a jealous God who will not stand any other idols in your life.

He loves you so much and wants to make sure that He is the first priority in your life; if your business takes first place in your life and draws you away from Him, He will not bless it.

Make it a priority to spend time with God every day, even if it means getting up earlier to do it. Come before God with thanksgiving and worship. Listen for His voice and let Him guide you in the ways He wants you to go.

Perseverance

Are you willing to work hard for your business for a period of time until you see the results? Not everything will happen fast. A business takes time to build and you must be willing to do the actions first and reap the harvest later. You can’t quit just because it doesn’t happen today or you hit a few obstacles. God wants to grow you into a person who can handle much and do much for the Kingdom of God.

What if I Make the Wrong Choices?

Here is the great thing about God. When you choose wrongly you get to try over and over until you get it right. He will work in your heart and grow you as a person until you can get it right.

So if you feel like you have been failing then ask God to show you what you need to do and then be quick to do it.

Don’t quit. Learn what you need to learn to be a blessing to others and God will use you in incredible ways.